Joel Beasley | Modern CTO cover image

Joel Beasley | Modern CTO

We’re Running Out of Time to Secure US Election Tech with Harri Hursti, Security Researcher & International Speaker

Sep 5, 2024
In this conversation with Harri Hursti, a renowned security researcher and international speaker, the vulnerabilities of US voting technology take center stage. Harri delves into longstanding issues from past elections, emphasizing the risks of outdated systems and insider threats. He argues for holistic security measures, highlighting the importance of paper ballots for integrity. The complexities of implementing blockchain in voting also spark discussion, as does the pressing need for robust electoral practices ahead of the crucial 2024 elections.
01:10:51

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The U.S. voting system is plagued by over 20 years of unresolved technological vulnerabilities, fueled by a lack of stringent security standards.
  • A small number of companies dominate the voting machine market, creating barriers to competition which stifles innovation and effective regulation.

Deep dives

Longstanding Vulnerabilities in Voting Technology

Many vulnerabilities in U.S. voting machines have existed for over 20 years without resolution. The issue partly stems from the aftermath of the 2000 presidential election, where a rush to improve election technology resulted in inadequate security standards. Despite congressional funding aimed at establishing security measures, states ended up purchasing outdated technology, often designed without security in mind. As a result, even today, many machines still operate on guidelines that effectively ignore essential security protocols.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode